Wax-applying device



Oct. 21, 1947. R. L. SARRA 2,429,429

- Y WAX-APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1945 f y/ naw 34 6735 J6, fmv a/ Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFKIE WAX-APPLYING DEVICE RobertL. Sarra, Swampscott,-..Mass.

Application May 2, 1945, Serial No. 591;437'

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to-apparatus for applying wax or other polishing agent to a surface to be polished, for example, apparatus employed in the finishing of shoe bottoms during the course of manufacture, and relates more particularly to means for supplying the wax or other material to a rotary applying brush or wheel.

Customarily the polishing wax is supplied in the form of a generally cylindrical elongate stick and is applied to the periphery of the polishing brush by presenting the end of this stick of wax against the brush bristles while the stick is held in the operators hand. The proper application of the wax is thus dependent upon the care or skill of the operator, and in the intervals between the application of wax to the polishing wheel the stick of wax may be mislaid or left in some place where it is adjacent to a steam pipe or the like, so that it is softened and distorted and perhaps contaminated with dirt or pieces of loose material in the vicinity of the machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide ready means whereby the wax may be applied to the periphery of the polishing brush in a definite and certain manner and merely by the employment of the operators foot, leaving his hands free for other work if desired, and so that the stick of wax will be held in readiness for use at all times, but without interfering with the proper operation of the polishing brush and where it is not easily damaged or softened by contact with heated parts. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a conventional polishing stand such as is used in shoe factories in the finishing of shoe bottoms; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the frame of the polishing stand is shown as comprising uprights l and transverse substantially horizontal members 2. The members I support aligned bearings 3 for the opposite ends of the horizontal rotary shaft 4 on which is mounted a pulley 5 connected by a belt 6 to a pulley on the shaft of a motor 1, here shown as mounted on the transverse frame member 2. The stand is also shown as comprising a conventional hood 8 connected by a conduit 9 to an exhaust fan or the like, designed to carry away loose particles thrown off by the waxing and polishing brushes. Mounted on the shaft 4 and within the hood 8 are the waxing and polishing brushes l0 and II, respectively.

2 The frame also comprises the horizontal rearwardly extending upper member 2 (Fig. 2) secured at its forward end to the upper transverse rail 2, and this member 2 is furnished, in accord-- .1 arise-with the present invention, with an opening near its forward end which receives the lower end portion of a hollow cylindrical guide l2, here shown as having a radial flange l3 which rests upon the upper surface of the part 2. This radial flange may be secured to the part 2 in any desired manner, for example by welding, brazing, rivets, or the like. Within the lower part of this cylindrical guide I2 there is arranged a vertically movable piston M fixed to the upper end of a rod l5 whose lower end is pivotally connected to the inner or rear end of a treadle lever I6, the outer end of which carries a depressible treadle member 11. The treadle lever is so fulcrumed that the major portion of its weight is at its inner end so that normally the treadle tends to occupy the position shown in Fig. 1 with the piston I4 in retracted position at the lower part of the cylinder 52, as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably an angle meniber I8 is secured by its vertical flange to the rail 2, its horizontal flange l9 being furnished with a guide opening for the upper part of the rod I5.

The stick of wax 20 which is to be employed for waxing the brush H3, is dropped into the cylinder l2 so as to rest upon the piston l4. Normally the upper end of this stick 2!! of wax is spaced from the periphery of the brush H}. However, when the operator desires to apply wax to the brush 15!, he merely depresses the treadle member H with his foot, thereby elevating the piston l4 and lifting the stick 2!) of wax until its lower end is brought into operative engagement with the ends of the brush bristles. The rotating brush wipes off wax from the upper end of the stick until the proper amount of wax has been applied to the wheel Ill, whereupon the operator releases the treadle l1, and the rod I5 and piston id drop, carrying the wax stick 2!? downwardly to disengage the brush.

With the arrangement just above described it is possible for the operator, even though holding a shoe with both hands, to raise the wax stick into engagement with the brush I0 and to apply the wax properly to the brush and without waste. When the wax stick has been carried downwardly into the cylinder [2 it is protected by the cylinder although always in readiness for instant application, but in a position such that it does not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the brush ID in applying wax to the shoe bottom.

While one desirable embodiment of the inven- 3 tion has herein been illustrated by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A wax-supplying device for use with a machine having a frame which supports a rotatable wax applying brush, said frame including a horizontal part provided with an opening directly below the brush, a fixed, elongate, hollow, cylindrical guide having its lower end within said opening and having a radial flange which is fixed to said horizontal part, the axis of the guide being substantially radial with respect to the brush, a vertically movable piston freely slidable within the guide, a piston rod whose upper end is connected to the piston, a treadle lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends and arranged at the lower part of the machine frame, the lower end of the piston rod being pivotally connected to the rear arm of the treadle, the forward arm of the treadle having a foot-engaging portion, the treadle being so fulcrumed that the major portion of its weight is at its rear end so that normally the rear end of the treadle is depressed by gravity, thereby 4 holding the piston within the lower part of the cylindrical guide, the guide being designed to hold a stick of wax whose lower end rests upon the piston, downward movement of the forward end of the treadle piston by the operator's foot raising the piston and engaging the upper end of the stick of wax with the peripheral portion of the brush, the weight of the treadle when released automatically returning the piston and wax stick to the inoperative position.

ROBERT L. SARRA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

r UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 866,216 Pine Sept. 17, 1907 1,309,370 Rumpf July 8, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 150,137 Germany Jan. 11, 1903 

